this and that

tried gin for the 1st time (I think) too herbal for my liking.
 

dunno why these two wouldn't use our lanai to wait out the rain, if it were crows they would have definitely been on our lanai

hoegaarden rosee, I've had this in the past, but bummed to learn that they use an artificial sweetener (dunno if they did in the past), will have to pay more attention to labels

tried to make the easy pupu with assorted sashimi, I now understand why it should be mixed with the shio konbu.

Satoshi ended up using some shoyu to eat it.

Been wanting this silicone gamaguchi type wallet, happy I found the Hello Kitty version.

I'll be on hiatus for the rest of this month, and will be in Hawaii visiting family and friends.

We thought Satoshi might be able to come to Hawaii this year but his company is reorganizing so he said he’ll be super busy 

If you want, you can keep up with us on Instagram or Facebook.

Be well.

yukigaya hanten

Satoshi wanted to check out Yukigaya Hanten because it was featured on a local television program.

They are one of 9 shops that serve this Ota Ward Shio (salt) Yakisoba (fried noodles)

There are 10 different ingredients that have a connection to Ota Ward, I tried a couple of bites and this was quite salty...850 yen (tax included)

I ordered the fried rice...780 yen (tax included).

This had lots of char siu, egg and kamaboko in it.

I thought this was on the salty side too.

The gyoza passed the gyoza snob's criteria...460 yen (tax included)

Since this isn't an area we often visit, we aren't sure that we'll be back, but we are glad we got to try the Ota Ward Shio Yakisoba.

Yukigaya Hanten

6-9 Yukigayaotsukamachi

Ota, Tokyo

Closed: Tuesdays

Hours: 11:30-14:00 (lunch), 17:00-21:00 (dinner)

*cash only

tenfuku

I've had Tenfuku bookmarked for some time, and then a television show recently had their tendon featured, so we decided to check it out.

They have been in business since 1959

20 minutes before opening we were 14th in line. 

Well 15th, because this woman just "oozed" her way into the line, I overheard she woke up late, so she was late meeting up with her friends, whatever, she is a line cutter...and at this point, there were at least 10 people behind us...

Since the shop only has 14 seats...we had to wait for the 2nd seating...ha! line cutter also had to wait

At lunch time they only have 4 choices...tendon (1500 yen), ebi tendon (1700 yen), half anago tendon (1700 yen) and anago tendon (2000 yen)

"please refrain from using strong perfumes or scented products when visiting"

There are many eateries that have this rule...especially soba shops, know before you go

I ordered the tendon...this comes with 2 ebi (shrimp), 3 veggies (bell pepper, tomato and eggplant), chicken, fish (sillaginidae), nori, egg...1500 yen (tax included)

that egg!

I ordered my lunch without miso soup, but the lady taking the orders did not write it down, so there was confusion when I refused the bowl of miso soup that they tried to serve me...

loved their tsukemono, I think it was housemade (takana, ginger and shibazuke)

Satoshi ordered the half anago tendon...half anago, 2 ebi (shrimp), chicken,  3 veggies (bell pepper, tomato, eggplant), nori and egg...1700 yen (tax included)

He enjoyed this.

We enjoyed watching the owner and his son (I think) fry up the tempura in such a teeny space!

I would’ve knocked stuff over!

go early or be prepared to wait, the line was long when we came out

Lunch time is the only time you can order tendon (cash only), and dinner time is strictly course style (reservations needed & credit cards accepted)

we enjoyed their tempura and will be back

Tenfuku

1-26-2 Oomori Kita

Ota, Tokyo

Closed: Mondays

Hours: 11:00-14:00 (lunch), 18:00-20:00 (dinner)

cattlea

Apparently Cattlea was the first bakery to create curry pan.

Since the bakery is located in a part of Tokyo that we don't always visit, I was happy to stumble upon their curry pan at the Nihonbashi Takashimaya

It was still warm when I bought it and it kinda got smooshed in my bag.

We ate this the next morning after I put it into the oven then the toaster.

This was filled to the gills with a slightly spicy curry, we loved this.

They also had a spicy version, we tried the original

I'm glad we got to try this and hope to visit the bakery to see what other items they sell.

Cattlea

1-6-10 Morishita

Koto, Tokyo

Closed: Sundays & Mondays

Hours: 7:30-18:30

easy pupu

I saw this photo in one of my news feeds and had to try making this.

(photo from the internet)
 

for 1 or 2 servings:

180-200 grams maguro (tuna) kiriotoshi (bits)

1.5 tablespoons shio konbu (or more if you wish) (sometimes called shiofuki konbu)

1 teaspoon sesame oil

1 teaspoon sesame seeds

Mix everything in a bowl and serve

NOTES: this was delicious

I like that this recipe uses sashimi bits, the “bits” are the parts leftover after they slice the fish for “real” sashimi the quality is still there, just that the pieces are not so big

In Japan, meats are also sold this way, and is usually cheaper

I didn't have shio konbu, so I just used the hijiki furikake that I had

And didn't use the full amount of furikake/konbu that the recipe called for just 1 teaspoon

Instead of mixing it with the other ingredients, I just layered everything onto the plate

I think this would be good with a sashimi assortment, so I want to try this again.

this and that

Found the "other flavor" this was sweeter than the "plain", I prefer the "plain" one

recently made up this pupu...tomato, chili crisp, mayo and diced onions

Tokyo furry people : so sleepy
 

Ike-Tama Happy Train...recently came upon this colorful train in our area

Tokyo People: enjoy seeing the grandmas talking story

Tokyo People: this guy passing out political info for the upcoming Tokyo Governor race, thought it was neat how he had his map attached to his windshield

eating juicy peaches over the kitchen sink

Tokyo (furry) people: waiting patiently

been eating somen, only takes 2 minutes to cook!

Bulgarian Kookie Cat cookies, like soft granola bars, would get these again.

So so humid, have a safe weekend.

marugame seimen

Back 2021, we tried Marugame Seimen's udon bento, back then you could choose between 2 item, 3 item or their special.

These days their udon bento has 2 tenpura or ebi ten (shrimp) or kashiwa ten (chicken)

I picked up their kashiwa ten udon bento...590 yen (tax included)

they also came out with udonuts (udon donuts)....300 yen for 5 pieces)

This is made with their udon, I envisioned it being more like Okinawan andagi but these were so soft!

They come in two flavors, sugar or curry....curry is quite spicy and not sweet at all. Sugar is a super fine brown sugar, delicious.

Grab a bag from the cafeteria like line.

Scoop your choice of flavor before paying.

Shake it up when you get home.

You can also take a skewer to eat them with.

(sugar)

(curry)

I would get these again.

mil's (part 5)

MIL's renovations started this week and will end hopefully sometime in November.

Hoping it will all go smoothly and stay within budget.
 

hisui lemon tea

Learned about Hisui lemon tea.

Apparently it is a Taiwanese drink and called hisui, which means jade in Japanese, because the jasmine tea they use is green like jade.

Jasmine tea is mixed with lemon and blended into a frozen drink.

By the time I got home, it was completely defrosted, I added ice

This was tasty and refreshing.

A little sweet but for the most part you can taste the jasmine tea.

They blend this after you order it...love!

Got this from Tokyo Doujiang Seikatsu, and would definitely get this again.

cafe vanni

Last Friday, I had said Tokyo hadn’t started their rainy season yet, well later that day, we did and some other areas in Japan started their rainy season too...boy was it rainy and cold!

Last Wednesday, Vanni, opened a cafe nearby.

Besides sweets, they also sell sandwiches, and other savory items too.

It was busy on Saturday, but we were lucky to secure a table

Satoshi had their soft serve...400 yen (tax included)

I had their matcha shaved ice...550 yen (tax included)

We both had coffee...450 yen (tax included) each

The coffees were strong, made to match their cakes, I think, it didn't quite match with my matcha shaved ice even if the matcha was a little sweetened.

We'll be back though, to try other items.

Cafe Vanni

6-5-1 Ikegami

Ota, Tokyo

Hours: not determined, check their social media

8865

Learned about the Oi Ocha Museum in Shinbashi the other day, so since I had an errand in the area, I went to check it out.

They are located inside the Old Shinbashi Station Railway History Exhibition Hall and there is no admission

(There is an area that has admission, but I didn't check that out because it seemed similar to the Tea Museum we visited in Shizuoka) 

These large tapestries were actually taken from the Kabuki curtain when the Kabuki theatre was renovated in 2013

so pretty

One thing that I wanted to see was the Shohei Otani Oi Ocha vending machine, apparently there is only this one in the whole world

It was krazy humid, so I cooled off with a matcha lemon soda...super refreshing 650 yen (tax included)

I also went to check out the Old Shinbashi Station Railway History Exhibition Hall, this also had no admission, most displays were in Japanese, so since I cannot read too much Japanese, I just looked at the photos and artifacts that they had.

The building is a replica of the first Shinbashi station.

Stumbled on the Ryuketsu Ginza Miyake no Miya Shrine

Apparently the Ryuketsu Ginza Miyake Ryujin (Dragon God) "aspires to guide people on the path of highest virtue as a human"

saw a woman stop to pray while I was here

Apparently this shrine is on the property of Dr Copa, a popular feng shui & color fortune teller

Tachibana Karinto has been in business since 1909!

They have two types, koro and saeda

Koro is a thick short rounded shaped karinto

I bought saeda, a long rounded shape karinto....1000 yen (tax included)

Loved this! the pieces are not hard like some karinto can be and the sugar coating does not stick to your teeth.

I'm glad I tried this and would give these away as gifts

Harnn, we've tried them before, I'm glad I got to reconnect with them.

365 nichi's chocolat trefle, apparently trefle means clover in French, this clover shaped puff pastry is filled with a ganache made with a blend of 61% and 32% chocolates...not too sweet and the pastry is flaky ...324 yen (tax included)

Hatake which means "field" or "garden" in Japanese

This brioche bread is topped with red miso, mayonnaise, olives, a little bacon, and all sorts of veggies like cabbage and komatsuna (mustard cabbage)...it was quite soft, so I ate this with a knife and fork, different but delicious...519 yen (tax included)

It was super humid but I'm glad I got my errand done and got to see other areas as well.

Oi Ocha Museum

inside the Old Shinbashi Station Railway History Exhibition Hall

1-5-3 Higashishinbashi

Minato, Tokyo

Closed Mondays

Hours: 10:00-17:00

Tachibana Karinto

8-7-19 Ginza

Chuo, Tokyo

Closed Sundays

Hours: 11:00-16:30 (15:00 Saturdays)